Ahhh… Barcelona! If you’re anything like us, the TikTok sound “Should we move here?” plays on repeat in our heads anytime we visit a new place. And when we traveled to Spain, more specifically, Barcelona, we concluded a resounding “YES!”. We could actually picture ourselves living a vibrant, fulfilling lifestyle there– Spending our mornings sipping coffee at a quaint cafe, our afternoons roaming the Gothic Quarter, and our evenings getting cozy in a tapas bar… Maybe some day! But in all seriousness, if you’re drawn to a city that effortlessly blends the old with the new, the historic with the avant-garde, then Barcelona should shoot right to the top of your travel bucketlist! We’ve compiled a list of the best things to do and see while planning your itinerary for this beautiful city, so let’s get to it:

1. Sagrada Família: This architectural marvel is an absolute must-see, but trust me, you don’t want to get stuck in those infamous long lines OR procrastinate buying your tickets and end up not seeing the cathedral up close because tickets were sold out for the day… which, you guessed it, is exactly what happened to us. Because this happened at the end of our trip, we were so disappointed that we left Barcelona without seeing inside Sagrada Familia. So, to prevent this catastrophe, book your tickets online well in advance and prioritize this activity towards the beginning of your stay in Barcelona just in case. We’ve heard early in the morning or late in the afternoon are the best times to book to avoid larger crowds.
   
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   For a full day of exploring Sagrada Familia and some of the other incredible attractions included on our list, such as Park Guell and the Gothic Quarter, check out this experience:
   
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2. Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter): This was arguably our favorite part of the entire trip. Allow us to paint you a picture: get lost in the labyrinthine streets and let spontaneity to be your guide, dance on the cobblestone to a guitarist’s beautiful music resounding through the alleyway, and consume your body weight in tapas and sangria (if you drink)! Doesn’t that sound absolutely magical?! We happened to visit in September during the La Merce Festival, where giants and beasts paraded down the streets– definitely worth aligning your trip to experience this if possible! Be sure to walk under Bishop’s Bridge (pictured above) and stroll through Placa Reial.

3. Park Güell: We consider this activity a MUST. Park Guell is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and spans across 42 acres, providing a bit of an escape from the city and the opportunity to see more of Antoni Gaudi’s artistry. Famous for an abundance of vibrant mosaics and elemental architecture, you can explore the Dragon Stairway, Hypostyle Room, Laundry Room Portico, and Austria Gardens– all located in the ‘Monumental Zone’ which you will need a ticket to access. They do practice admission control/timed entry to prevent overcrowding, so be sure to buy your tickets online in advance and plan accordingly to arrive a little early. There’s a 30min grace period from when your reservation time starts to visit the park, once that passes that you will be unable to enter. Entering Gaudi’s House Museum is a separate ticket, just heads up! We walked through on our own, but if you prefer a guided tour, we’ve included a link here to a Gaudi dedicated 5hr tour including entrances to Casa Batllo, Casa Vicens, Casa Mila, Park Guell, and Sagrada Familia. Note: the morning tour and afternoon tour feature different attractions, so be sure to read the description thoroughly! If you’d like a skip-the-line ticket to enter just Park Guell, we’ve included a link below! Lines to enter the park or buy tickets in person can get very long and time-consuming, so this will come in handy:

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4. Barceloneta Beach: One of the most iconic activities to do in Barcelona is spending the day soaking up some rays at Barceloneta Beach. This isn’t necessarily the beach you go to for a peaceful afternoon, the energy tends to run high here with the volume of beach goers! But with that said, it’s definitely worth the visit for an afternoon picnic, sun bathing, and walking along the boardwalk. There’s plenty of restaurants, shops, and cafes nearby to make a day of it!

5. Picasso Museum: You should 100% factor the Picasso Museum into your Gothic Quarter itinerary. Even if museums aren’t typically your thing, getting to see the collection up close is so compelling and a unique experience to have while in Barcelona. Foot traffic inside the museum varies, but we got lucky and it was relatively quiet throughout our visit. We were able to walk around and view the pieces without feeling rushed or cramped for space.

6. Casa Batlló: This building, designed in 1904, was originally a boring townhouse before Gaudí transformed it into a whimsical, dragon-like wonder. Casa Batlló is a true masterpiece of modernist architecture, the vibrant colors and wavy, almost fluid, design bring the house to life– no really, it’s a lot to take in and it appears as if the walls are moving. We geeked out a little bit for this one. You can walk through and tour Casa Batlló, or just appreciate the exterior from the street. We walked home from dinner one night downtown and happened to pass by unplanned and snapped the above photo.

7. Helicopter Tour: If you’re looking for the BEST view of Barcelona (and you’re a bit of a thrill seeker) you should definitely book a helicopter tour! Seeing how intricately the streets are designed from above was so captivating.. the city itself looks like a work of art! We took a 20 minute ride and that felt like plenty of time to see what we wanted to see and have a fulfilling experience. We booked with Cathelicopters, but unfortunately after COVID they are no longer in business. However, there are plenty of other great tour companies to choose from! If we were to revisit Barcelona and book another helicopter tour:

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8. FC Barcelona Soccer Game: If you’re a futbol fan, then you cannot visit Barcelona without experiencing a Barca game! The atmosphere and energy throughout the stadium is unmatched– the chants, celebrations, and fans sharing their love of the game.. truly an unforgettable experience! We were lucky to be there when Messi still played for Barca, so getting to see him on the field at Camp Nou was incredible. Currently, Camp Nou (now referred to as ‘Spotify Camp Nou’) is under construction and matches are being held at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys until December 2024. We’ve included an experience below that will ensure you have the time of your life and the best seats in the stadium (in our opinion) right near the field! Full disclosure, we did not book this experience ourselves because we had already purchased our tickets, but we had similar seats and it was 100% worth seeing the beautiful game up close. This is the experience we would have chosen:

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